New Cars for 2015: Alfa Romeo and Aston Martin

Charting the changes for 2015.

Alfa Romeo

4C (shown above, left): It’s always too soon to proclaim Alfa’s return to America, but we’re convinced that the company will sell at least one 4C here. We hope it sells thousands. This workingman’s exotic is a high-tech, low-weight wunderkind. For $55,195, the 4C nets its owner a carbon-fiber structure, a mid-mounted, 237-hp inline-four, and sublime steering. The first 500 are Launch Edition models, priced at $69,695. See test ››

Aston Martin

DB9: New Carbon Edition models have a monochromatic paint scheme and interiors that go heavy on their namesake material. But you’d think the decade-old DB9 would have turned to diamond by now.

Vantage: Aston takes the Sawzall to the V-12 Vantage S to make a roadster, but the real news is the V-8 Vantage GT(shown above, right). Undercutting the standard model’s price by some $18,000, the GT offers a palette of five colors matched with contrasting graphics. Lest we deride it as a badge-and-tape special, power is supplied by the same 430-hp, 4.7-liter V-8 from the top-of-the-line V-8 S. GTs are available as coupes and roadsters with a six-speed manual or seven-speed automated ’box. See V12 Vantage S Roadster official photos and info ››